Heart, soul of a general

Within those four years at the Philippine Military Academy, and there is chance to cheat, you would do it unless you were raised with the right values at home.

Major General Antonio Parlade Jr. believes a good soldier is first molded at home.

To Major General Antonio Gumba Parlade Jr, the 47th Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, concurrently the Deputy Focal Person of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict, the training of a good soldier “starts right at home with one’s family.”

This, along with his thoughts on the education of an excellent military man, he shared with the Daily Tribune in an interview where he related stories of his childhood, his education at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and his early years with the military before he tied the knot with his wife, the former Cecile Ortega, with whom he would sire four daughters and a son.

Reflecting on his education in the light of the recent controversies in the country’s premier military academy, Parlade, who belongs to PMA Class 1987, said, “Within those four years at the Philippine Military Academy and there is chance to cheat, you would do it unless you were raised with the right values at home. But if you love your country and you love the institution, you will behave as you ought to. But it is important that you draw strength from where you came from.”

While he used cheating as an example of a misdemeanor that one could commit, Parlade is, of course, referring to any infraction of the law which, in some instances, has even led to the death of one’s fellow cadets.

Parlade’s message is clear, that to behave honorably, one has to have the right values, and these are best inculcated in the very young right in the company of their family as they are growing up.

What happens beyond the formative years, according to Parlade, is defined largely by the way a child has been raised by his parents or whoever performs the crucial role of nurturing them.

Delving a lot into his private and personal life, the Daily Tribune aimed to know the general minus his stars, with only the core of his personality, his “heart and soul” as it were.

Daily Tribune (DT): Where are you from, General? Where did you grow up?

Antonio Gumba Parlade Jr. (AGPJ): I was born in Ligao, Albay. But I grew up in Daraga, Albay. We were four boys in the family.

“I MAY be harsh, but one thing I can tell you, I don’t lose a single soldier.” ALFONSO PADILLA

DT: What made you pursue a career in the military?

AGPJ: Before our father died, he wanted one of us to be a priest and another a soldier, preferably one who would enter the PMA. So it was an agreement among siblings that the eldest would go to PMA; I was the second, and I was going to be a priest. As for the last two boys, it would be up to them.

DT: And why did you not become a priest?

AGPJ: Eventually, the eldest failed in the medical exam because he had a problem with his teeth. He had to have his tooth extracted but he didn’t go to the dentist before the deadline. My father teased him about being scared of entering the PMA that’s why he intentionally did not have his tooth extracted. What was obvious was my Dad really wanted a son of his to become a military man. So, it was our youngest brother who entered the seminary but he would marry years later. And I became the military man.

DT: What were your parents’ names? And what were they engaged in?

AGPJ: My father’s name is Antonio. He was a farmer, we have a bakahan (pastureland for cows). That’s where he got his income. My mother was an elementary school teacher. Her name is Manuela.

My father’s father was a former mayor of their town. He was mayor for 27 years. The youngest and the longest. But my father disliked politics. He discouraged us from joining politics.

AGPJ: They were strict but fair. They were okay. We grew up with our mother’s parents, our grandparents, in Albay. My grandfather on my mother’s side was a World War II veteran. His movements were measured; my grandmothers’ too. You had to be respectful, neat, you had to work. It was not right that they would feed you without you helping at home. We did not have all those high-tech gadgets. And our school was just near so we would just walk to it. We were not given an allowance. If you were hungry, you went home to eat. And that’s how we trained our children. They did not hold money up to high school here at Assumption.

Before our father died, he wanted one of us to be a priest and another a soldier, preferably one who would enter the PMA.

AGPJ: I loved sports in high school — tennis, football, not much basketball because our father discouraged us to pursue it; my cousins were tall but they had their share of physical injuries from playing basketball — our family day was focused on sports. Today even my children play tennis.

DT: Were you okay in school, like if you receive honors?

AGPJ: Yes, since grade one, we would somehow always go up to the stage to receive a medal. In high school, I would be second honors or first honorable mention. My brothers and I were never valedictorian or salutatorian but we would go up to the stage for the other awards.

AGPJ: My favorite subjects were Math and Science. We were good in Math, Geometry, Physics and the like but we were weak in Literature and such subjects.

DT: I guess that did not matter when you went to PMA. Literature would not have been their specialty.

AGPJ: PMA then practically offered an Engineering course with a bit of the Humanities because the curriculum was geared toward post-war reconstruction.

AGPJ: I could not say anything about the academic staff. They were all very good, but the one who was well-known and admired was Col. Mapagtapat Ongchangco. He was very smart. And you had to think fast because he thought fast. His subjects were like Mechanics and the like.

“A LEADER can do what his men can do.” ALFONSO PADILLA

DT: How was it like studying there? Were you in the top 10 or so?

AGPJ: At the PMA, if you were assigned to a company where the commander was mabagsik (harsh), your priority was how to survive. Your subjects were the last priority. If you found yourself in Alpha company, where your priority was academics, you focused on academics. In my case, I needed to survive. That was more important than being at the top tier of the class. It was enough to pass my subjects.

DT: Was your class involved in any controversy?

AGPJ: Yes, Class Hinirang (Chosen), which was our class, insisted on the enforcement of the honor system and the dismissal of a cheating ring among the senior class. Some of our classmates were taking an exam with a kodigo (exam cheater’s guide). We discovered this in our company. We “rumbled” the guy with a kodigo for us to be able to get the evidence. And that trial started everything, including an honor trial. We had honor committee proceedings. As a result, more than 24 of our classmates were discharged. We had purging and that’s the reason why our class only had 164 members because many were discharged. Other classes had as many as 200 plus.

It was an agreement among siblings that the eldest would go to PMA; I was the second, and I was going to be a priest.

DT: Were you conscious of national events? Like EDSA 1?

AGPJ: We were in the PMA during the first EDSA Revolution. We were ready to go down to Manila. We were with the rebel group.

Later, I would join the Young Officers Union or YOU for the lieutenants and captains. I was one of the prime movers of YOU in Mindanao at that time. I became involved because I saw the corruption, the problems of the military. This was around 1988 and 1989. I was still single, and my family never had an inkling of what I went through.

AGPJ: Love of country. As for the other values, these were formed in one’s home with one’s family. In PMA, though, you learned to do away with certain bad habits. With regard to integrity, you should have it with you right from the start. Within those four years, and there is chance to cheat, you would do it unless you were raised with the right values at home. But if you love your country and you love the institution, you will behave as you ought to. But it I important that you draw strength from where you came from.

DT: We understand that you married late. What was your reason? Were you busy with your career?

AGPJ: Oh, yes, I married late. This was in 1995. I made it a point that if I was going to raise a family, I would stay close to them. So, during my first 10 years, I asked to be assigned to Mindanao, in such parts as Central Mindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Cotabato and Zamboanga del Norte.

I decided that if I was going to raise a family, I should be with my children especially during their formative years, the first six years. I should be able to watch over them. When I finally became battalion commander, I was able to choose my post. And I wanted to be in Luzon. Instead of me going to our home in Quezon City, my wife and daughters were the ones who vacationed in Batangas, where I was posted.

I was in charge of 54 municipalities and three cities, Quezon, Laguna and Batangas up to Mauban, Quezon. The whole of Cavite. I was a major then. A battalion commander usually is a Lieutenant Colonel. I was fortunate to be offered a battalion when I was only a Major. So at least I was able to see my children grow and together with my wife, we were able to inculcate the right values so that when they finally grew up and would be on their own, we would not fear that they would go wayward.

AGPJ: Cecile and I have five children. My eldest is taking up Economics in the Australia National University. The second is also a student in Melbourne Royal Institute of Technology. She is specializing in computers. My third is in Ateneo, and so is the fourth. They are two years apart, but we have the youngest, and he was born seven years after. Our son is grade five in San Agustin. At least we have a “laruan (toy).”

And because they are five, we can just be together at home. We can just relax and enjoy each other’s company. We don’t have to go out all the time.

DT: Is it true that you were special in that you were never hurt in a battle despite the many that you engaged in? And that your men also escaped death?

AGPJ: I’ve been to a lot of combat engagements whether with NPA (New People’s Army) or MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), among others. And I would be with a troop of 100 or 50 or 40. That’s where I got most of my combat awards. As early as when I was Second Lieutenant, I was one of those who received the Combat award. I recall that at that time, I had an encounter almost every 10 days. We had a good intelligence and I had a good team so we could easily penetrate the enemy lines. We were the ones attacking them. This was where I got my second highest award.

But I am happy that I returned to Luzon. I came back without an injury but more importantly, I never lost a single man.

DT: What was your secret? How did you win your battles all the time? Or how come you were never hurt, neither your soldiers?

AGPJ: A good hunch is a result of what you see, what you hear, what you know. It happened to us about 15 times. Once I told them not to cross this river, or that one should not go farther. Incidentally, one that did not belong to our troupe crossed the river. As soon as they reached the other side, a landmine exploded.

AGPJ: A good soldier is a good follower. He should be aware of dynamics of the community where he is assigned. Especially in the fight against insurgency, your enemy is right within the community. That’s why a soldier should know his anthropology, sociology, psychology, everything. Learn the culture. Even economics, learn the price of commodities. What is the effect of the rise in the price of gas? How would this affect the people in the barangay?

AGPJ: A leader can do what his men do. He looks after their welfare. He can be very strict, but if he is fair, his people will love and respect him. I may be harsh, but one thing I can tell you, I don’t lose a single soldier.

Because of his dedication to values of honor, courage and commitment, Parlade has received a lot of commendations, awards and decorations. He is a recipient of Distinguished Service Stars for services rendered in positions of major responsibility, the Order of Antonio Luna, a Bronze Cross medal and the Distinguished Conduct Star for bravery in combat.

Parlade was designated as Commander at 203rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 prior to his assumption as 47th Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, J7 at General Camp Emilio Aguinaldo and detailed with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as Senior Military Adviser.